Velocipede-pedal.



No. 649,|27. Patented May 8, I900.

W. J. GBOTENHUIS. VELUGIPEDE PEDAL.

' (Application filed July 29, 1899.)

(No Model.)

amp STATES P TEN FFIGE.

' VELOClPEDE-PEDAL.

STPEOIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,127, dated May 8,1900.

Application filed July 29, 1899. fierial No. 725,520. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. GROTEN- HUIS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of (look and State ofIllinois, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements inVelocipede-Pedals, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical,and e'llicient pedal for velocipedes; and the invention consists in thefeatures, combinations, and details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is plan View of a pedalconstructed in accordance with my improvements, showing a portion of theflexible cover broken away and looking at the same from the top; Fig. 2,a plan View of a similarly-constructed pedal looking at it from below;Fig. 3, an enlarged sectional View taken on line 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4a detail plan View of a portion of one end of the flexible cover lookingat it from above and detached from the other parts.

In constructing my improvements I use a base-plate A of the desiredsize, shape, and strength to support the foot of the average rider. Thisbase-plate is provided with a tubular portion B, having wings b, bywhich it is secured to the base-plate. This tubular portion is providedwith bearing portions and is rotatably mounted upon the usual pedal-pinO of the desired size and construction.

It is highly desirable to hold the'riders foot in position while riding,so as to prevent him from losing the pedal and at the same time protectthe shoe and foot from injury. In order to accomplish this result, aflexible cover D is provided of the desired size, shape, and strength.This flexible cover is preferably formed of a single piece of leather orsimilar material and is provided at each end with a metal plate d, bywhich it is secured to the base-plate of the pedal. In orderto securethe ends of the flexible cover to the baseplate adj ustablythat is, sothat the ends may be moved farther in or out on the bottom of thep'late,as the case may be,to increase the size of the opening betweenthe cover and the base-plat-e--such base-plate is provided with a seriesof holes CL and a, the holes abeing adapted to receive a securing-bolt dand the holes or adapted to receive the dowel-pins 02 Then it is desiredto change the size of the opening or size of the space between the coverand the base-plate, the ends of the flexible cover are moved inwardly,so that the dowel-pins may engage with the proper holes. Thesecuring-bolt is then thrust through the proper hole and all the partsfirmly secured together. 1

To sustain the flexible cover in its up position, a metallic spring E isprovided, having one end secured to the base-plate and the other endpassed upwardly and backwardly to a central point and adjacent to therear upper side of the cover, where it is pivotally secured at e. Themeans used for pivotally securing the upper end of the sustaining-springto the cover is a metal piece E, which is riveted to the cover andprovided with lugs 6. These lugs are perforated, as is the end of thespring, and through these perforations is passed a pin. (Not shown indetail.) This supporting or sustaining spring is shown in the drawingsas made integral With the base-plate. It will be understood, however,that while it is so shown it can be made separate from the base-plateand removabl y secured thereto. In

fact, this latter form is the Way in which I prefer to make it, so thatshould such spring become broken it may be replaced without discardingthe entire base-plate. It will also be seen that this supporting andsustaining spring may act as a stop for the toe of the shoe, though itis preferable that it should not be so used for the reason that the-toeshould be allowed to contact the leather cover, and thus avoid injury tothe same.

I claim- 1. In apedal of the class described, the combination of abase-plate, a flexible cover secured thereto so as to form a space inwhich the riders foot may be inserted, and a spring with one end securedto the base-plate and the other end pivotally secured to the cover toassist in maintaining it in its operativecondition, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a pedal of the class described, the combination of a base -plate,a flexible cover to assist in maintaining such cover in opemformed ofleather or similar material adjusttive condition, substantially asdescribed.

ably secured to the base-plate and providing between it and thebase-plate a space for the J w 1 T insertion of the riders foot, and asustaining- VILLIAM GRUl HUIS 5 spring with one end secured to thebase-plate and the other end pivotally secured to the cover portion onthe upper side thereof so as \Vi messes:

R. L. TERRY, THOMAS H. MQGREQOR.

